FRAMINGHAM: Irene Fairbanks (Goddard) Plumley, died peacefully at her residence in Framingham on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the age of 94.
She was born in Athol on February 10, 1920 the daughter of the late Elmer J. Goddard and Mabel L. (Fairbanks) Goddard.
Irene was the beloved wife for 72 years of the late Edward Anson Plumley who died on December 5, 2012.
She is survived by her devoted children Susan Walker Cheyne of Bellingham, Carolyn Gross and her husband David of Eugene, OR and E. Steven Plumley and his wife Jane of Enfield, N.H. She had nine grandchildren; Deborah Wilson, Christine Forrett, Amy Walker, Sarah Gross, MLE Gross, Katie Stewart, Holly West, David and Douglas Plumley. She also had five great-grandchildren; Samantha and Rachel Wilson, Jessica and Rebecca Forrett and Anson West. She was predeceased by her sister Ruth Masi and her son-in-law Sandy Cheyne.
Irene was a graduate of Athol High School and attended Jackson College (Tufts) where she met her future husband, Ed. In her later years, she returned to school and became a social worker and worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She was a member of the Rainbow Girls and the Order of the Eastern Star. Irene was an active member of the Celebration International Church of Wayland and an avid gardener. She was devoted to her family and her faith and enjoyed writing notes of encouragement to friends and family.
Irene and Ed enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Alaska, Canada, Egypt and Jerusalem. They lived in Guam for two years while Ed served in the United States Navy during the Korean Crisis. She will be greatly missed by all of the lives that she touched.
A Memorial Service will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 1:00 pm at the Celebration International Church, 6 Loker Street, Wayland.
Private family interment will be held at the Plumley family lot in Wadsworth Cemetery in Sudbury.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Irene’s memory may be sent to the Celebration International Church, 6 Loker Street, Wayland, MA 01778.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home of Wayland. For online condolences please visit www.johncbryantfuneralhome.com.